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The Prime Minister today set out this Government’s 12 objectives for negotiating Britain’s exit from the European Union. I welcome this announcement as it offers a clear plan and priorities for Britain, and provides helpful reassurance for constituents and businesses. This was a strong statement that it will be a real Brexit, delivering on the referendum result and providing fantastic opportunities for increasing prosperity going forward.

The 12 objectives set out by the Prime Minister for Brexit are:

1. Certainty: the final deal will be put to a vote in both Houses of Parliament

2. Control of our own laws: an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain

3. Strengthen the Union: the right powers will be returned to Westminster and the right powers passed to the devolved administrations

4. Maintain the Common Travel Area with Ireland

5. Control of immigration control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe, whilst continuing to attract the brightest and the best

6. Rights for EU nationals in Britain, and British nationals in the EU: guarantee of these rights as early as possible. EU nationals in Britain will be provided with certainty as long as this is reciprocated for British citizens in EU countries

7. Protect workers’ rights: EU rights will be translated into UK law to ensure workers’ rights are fully protected and maintained

8. Free trade with European markets: There will be no membership of the Internal EU Market, as a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement is the aim instead. Remaining in the Single Market would mean complying with the European Court of Justice, Freedom of Movement and EU rules and regulations with no say on what they are. Pursuing a free trade agreement means we will not be required to contribute huge sums to the EU budget, but we can still decide to contribute to some specific EU programmes that we want to participate in.

9. New trade agreements with other countries: it is time for Britain to become a global trading nation, able to strike trade agreements around the world. Under the Common Commercial Policy and the Common External Tariff, full Customs Union membership prevents us from doing this, but the aim is for a customs agreement with the EU and have an open mind on how we achieve this end

10. The best place for science and innovation: continuation of collaboration with our European partners on major science, research and technology initiatives

11. Co-operation in the fight against crime and terrorism: practical arrangements on matters of law enforcement and intelligence

12. A smooth, orderly Brexit: an agreement about our future partnership by the time the two year Article 50 process has concluded. From that point onwards, there will be a phased process of implementation to work to avoid a disruptive cliff-edge